Georgia preseason depth chart preview: The secondary

ATHENS — It’s remarkable how much worse Georgia’s secondary got in the offseason. And not because of attrition.

When last season ended, Georgia led the nation in pass defense. Not second, not third, not fourth … first. And with every main contributor set to return, things seemed pretty good.

Then new head coach Kirby Smart arrived, and said he felt last year’s staff “protected” the secondary through the pass-rush skills of Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins. Floyd and Jenkins, preparing for the NFL draft, said they agreed.

Then fans and media members started looking at it closer and noticing that Georgia not only faced two triple-option teams, but that every team it faced last year finished outside the top 60 nationally in passing offense. Alabama, ranked 62nd in that category, was the best passing team Georgia faced, and we know how that went.

Finally, for good measure, two weeks ago Smart gave some rather harsh comments to ESPN.com. He called Dominick Sanders – a first-team All-SEC pick last year – “an All-SEC second-team type of guy.”

“We’ve got some good players back but not the level I would be accustomed to coming from Alabama,” Smart told ESPN. “It’s not that caliber of corners.”

The skinny: Parrish was the only defensive back to start every game for Georgia last year. (Sanders would have too if not for a targeting ejection.) McGraw started five games last year, mainly as the star, and it remains to be seen whether he returns to that role or is used more at field or boundary cornerback. Hardman is an elite recruit who will compete for playing time. McGhee’s development will be interesting to watch, along with Baker in his sophomore year. If Fenteng can stay healthy, maybe he competes for some snaps as well.

Prediction: Hardman sees time initially in dime packages, but this job is Parrish’s until further notice. Jeremy Pruitt, who inherited Parrish as a signee two years ago, was initially skeptical about Parrish too. Parrish won Pruitt over, and he’ll do the same with Smart.

The skinny: Briscoe seemed to have the edge for a starting spot as spring ended. But Davis’ versatility should help, so it may just depend on how much subbing Smart and Mel Tucker elect to do in the secondary.

Prediction: Briscoe starts – assuming he faces no suspension for the spring traffic arrest – while Davis sees a lot of snaps too, and perhaps also starts, depending on the opening package.

STAR (NICKEL BACK)

Returning starter: Rico McGraw, Soph. (Started five games last year.)

Top competition: Reggie Wilkerson, Jr.

The rest: Quincy Mauger, Sr., Aaron Davis, Jr.

The skinny: This is sort of the flex position in the secondary, where match-ups and gameplanning will have a big effect. Georgia played a lot of 4-2-5 the past few years, and while it might be more of a 3-3-5 this year, the last number is still five. So if that’s the case, the nickel back is basically a starting position. North Carolina, Missouri, Ole Miss … those are teams that will throw. McGraw heads into camp with the edge here, with Wilkerson also a possibility. Mauger seems set at safety, but he did slide down to the star a few times last year, and Davis could play it as well.

Prediction: McGraw begins as the main nickel back, unless Parrish slides into that role, with McGraw sliding to field or corner. Either way, it would be a shock if the starting cornerbacks against North Carolina aren’t one of those three or Davis.

The skinny: The only question here is who is in position in case something happens to Sanders. It’s almost certainly Davis, but the two sophomores and McGhee – and perhaps Hardman and Wilkerson – will have the preseason to compete to officially be second on the depth chart.

Prediction: Sanders may only be a second-team All-SEC type guy, but he’d have to be beat out by a first-team All-SEC type guy, and apparently they don’t have that yet. Sanders starts every game this year, barring injury … and is named second-team All-SEC.

FREE SAFETY

The skinny: Mauger is the venerable veteran, the Tim Kaine of the secondary – a bit boring, maybe not a difference-maker, but gets the job done and doesn’t put his foot in his mouth during interviews, or really say anything interesting at all despite being one of the smartest people on the team. That’s why Mark Richt and now Smart have shoveled Mauger at the media any chance they could get the past few years. Need a quarterback quote? Here’s Quincy Mauger. Doing a story on the tailbacks? Here’s Quincy Mauger anyway. OK it’s nearing the end here and we’re getting punchy.

Prediction: Mauger starts and is present at 100 percent of media availabilities. Wilson also pushes for playing time in certain packages.